How to Write a Nairobi Postal Address

Writing addresses correctly matters more than most people realize, especially for most people in Kenya. A single mistake in your postal address can delay important documents, cause packages to get lost, or even result in rejected applications. If you are applying for a job online, sending mail through Posta Kenya, or filling out international forms, knowing the proper format saves you time and prevents frustration.

In Kenya, and to be specific, Nairobi, Many people still face many challenges when it comes to properly writing a Postal address. This is because, unlike countries where every house has a street number, Kenya’s postal system works differently, whereby we use P.O. Box addresses rather than physical street addresses. This can create confusion, especially when dealing with international websites that expect you to enter a house number and street name.

How do you write a postal address in Kenya?

When you rent a P.O. Box from Posta Kenya, you receive a unique box number at a specific post office location. That post office becomes your permanent mailing address. Your mail doesn’t come to your home or office building; instead, it arrives at the post office, where it’s sorted into your assigned box. You then visit the post office to collect your mail.

A typical Kenyan postal address follows this pattern: P.O. Box 12345-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.

Each part of this address serves a specific purpose. The box number (12345 in this example) identifies your specific box at the post office. The five-digit code after the hyphen (00100) is the postal code that tells Posta Kenya which specific post office location handles your mail. Nairobi indicates the city, and Kenya identifies the country for international mail.

Therefore, when writing the Postal address, make sure to include the hyphen between your box number and postal code. It is a requirement in Kenya because Posta Kenya’s sorting system uses this hyphen to separate the two pieces of information. Without it, your mail could end up misrouted or delayed.

And when writing a postal address, remember Nairobi uses different postal codes. While we are used to the standard 00100 ( Nairobi GPO), Nairobi has up to 45 other post offices. 00800 is for the Westlands Post Office, 00500 is for the Enterprise Road Post Office, and more. So be sure always to use the correct Postal code to ensure easy sorting and delivery of mail. If you aren’t sure which is your correct postal code, see below.

How to Write a P.O. Box Address in Nairobi

Writing a P.O. Box address correctly determines whether your mail reaches you or gets lost in the postal system. The format is specific, and each component must appear in the right place. Get one piece wrong, and Posta Kenya’s sorting system might misroute your mail or return it to the sender.

Every P.O. Box address in Nairobi follows the same basic structure. Here’s the correct way to write it:

Recipient Name
P.O. Box [Number]-[Postal Code]
City
Country (for international mail)

Let’s break down a real example: P.O. Box 54321-00200, Nairobi, Kenya

The recipient’s name goes on the first line. For individuals, write their full name as it appears on official documents. For businesses, put the company name on the first line and add “Attn: [Person’s Name]” or “Attn: [Department]” on the second line if you’re directing mail to a specific person or department.

The P.O. Box line contains three critical elements that must appear in exact order. First comes “P.O. Box” written exactly like that. Don’t abbreviate it to “PO Box” or “P.O.Box” without spaces. Then your box number—just the digits, nothing else. After the box number, you must include a hyphen (-). This hyphen isn’t optional. Finally, the five-digit postal code completes the line.

Here’s what this looks like in practice:

Individual example:

Jane Wanjiru
P.O. Box 12340-00100
Nairobi
Kenya

Business example:

Safari Tech Solutions Ltd
Attn: Human Resources
P.O. Box 87654-00800
Nairobi
Kenya

Organization example:

Nairobi Youth Empowerment Center
P.O. Box 45678-00400
Nairobi
Kenya

What’s Nairobi’s Postal Code?

Nairobi doesn’t have a single postal code; instead, the whole Nairobi City County has up to 45 different Postal offices. The most widely recognized Nairobi postal code is 00100, which belongs to the General Post Office (GPO).

However, using 00100 for everything would be incorrect if your P.O. Box is actually at a different post office. Your postal code must match your actual post office location. If you have a P.O. Box at the Westlands post office, your postal code is 00800, not 00100. Using the wrong postal code sends your mail to the wrong post office, causing delays while Posta Kenya reroutes it.

Here are some of the Popular Post offices in Kenya:

No.	Post Office Name	Postal Code
1	General Post Office (GPO)	00100
2	Jamia Mosque	00101
3	State Law Office	00102
4	City Square	00200
5	Kenyatta National Hospital	00202
6	Ronald Ngala Street	00300
7	Tom Mboya Street	00400
8	Enterprise Road	00500
9	JKIA Airport	00501
10	Karen	00502
11	Mbagathi	00503
12	Mchumbi Road (Kibra)	00504
13	Ngong Road	00505
14	Nyayo Stadium	00506
15	Viwandani	00507
16	Yaya Towers	00508
17	Langata	00509
18	Makongeni	00510
19	Buruburu	00515
20	Dandora	00516
21	Uhuru Garden	00517
22	Kayole	00518
23	Mlolongo	00519
24	Ruai	00520
25	Embakasi	00501
26	Industrial Area	00522
27	Gikomba	00523
28	Docks	00524
29	Railway Station	00525
30	Ngara Road	00600
31	Gigiri	00601
32	Lavington	00603
33	Lower Kabete	00604
34	Uthiru	00605
35	Sarit Centre	00606
36	Kamiti	00607
37	Kenyatta University	00609
38	Eastleigh	00610
39	Mathare Valley	00611
40	Ruaraka	00618
41	Muthaiga	00619
42	Village Market	00621
43	Parklands	00623
44	Kangemi	00625
45	Westlands	00800

To get all Nairobi Postal Codes. Please search below:

How to Fill P.O. Box Addresses in Online Forms

And since everything has now gone digital, Most online forms nowadays will require you to provide your address. While it is easier to do so, for some it’s quite a challenge, mainly when the form fields include physical street addresses, Address Line 1, Address Line 2, Postcode, and City.

International forms expect physical street addresses because that’s how addressing works in most Western countries. They weren’t designed with Kenya’s P.O. Box system in mind. However, you can make your P.O. Box address fit these forms if you understand how to break it down correctly.

Most address forms follow a standard structure:

• Address Line 1: Usually required. Expects street name and number.
• Address Line 2: Optional. For apartment numbers, suite numbers, or additional details.
• Postcode/ZIP Code: Required. A dedicated field for postal codes.
• Town/City: Required. The city name.
• State/County/Province: Sometimes required. For Kenya, this would be your county.
• Country: Required. Select or type “Kenya.”

The key mistake most people make is trying to squeeze their entire address into Address Line 1. The form has separate fields for a reason; each field captures different information. When you understand what each field is for, you can adapt your P.O. Box address to fit.

To help you understand the correct way to fill each field.Let’s use a real example: P.O. Box 54321-00800, Nairobi, Kenya, for an even better understanding, okay:

Here’s exactly how to fill the form:

• Address Line 1: 54321 – (Enter ONLY your box number. Nothing else. Don’t write “P.O. Box” or include the postal code.)
• Address Line 2: Westlands Post Office – (Optional. You can write the post office name, leave it blank, or add your area name like “Westlands.”)
• Postcode/ZIP Code: 00800 – Enter your five-digit postal code. This goes in its own field, never in Address Line 2.)
• Town/City: Nairobi – (Always “Nairobi” for all addresses in Nairobi County. Never write area names like Westlands or Karen here.)
• State/County: Nairobi or Nairobi County – (If the form requires this field, write “Nairobi” or “Nairobi County.”)
• Country: Kenya

For more details on filling Address Line 1 correctly, including common mistakes and additional examples, read our detailed guide: Nairobi Address Line 1: How to Fill It Correctly With Examples.

Frequently Asked Questions